Can construction



July 18, 1939. E, o, MUNK 2,166,783

CAN CONSTRUCTION Fil-ed Aug. 7, 1957 In wen i'ar Em 1AM un k Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

This invention is for a can construction, par,- ticularly. adapted for use in merchandising commodities in cans, and particularly those commodities which are adaptedto be poured from cans when and as ultimately consumed.

A particular object of this construction is to provide a type-of can construction wherein a completely removable tear strip is formed in an appropriate part of the can, which may be rev moved with a single stroke or pull.

A further important object of this construction is the provision of a can construction in which a lever or key is formed integral or per- 7 manently mounted on one end of the removable 15. section or tear strip whereby the means of opening the can is always, available and wherein no other means than the key or lever need be employed.

A further highly important object of the invention is the provision of a lever or key permanently mounted on or formed integral with a removable section or tear strip, the, said key hav-- ing a substantially triangular protrusion terminating in registry with the sharp angular or curved end of the tear strip or. the like; the said triangular protrusion being fastened to the sharp angular end of the tear strip and permanently fastened thereto insuring easy breakage of said tear strip.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a removable tear strip having a permanently attached or integral key or lever in which the tear strip is so formed as to be easily and completely removed from the body of the can.

' A still further object of the invention is the provision of a key or lever permanently attached to or formed integral with a removable tear strip, the said key or lever being formed to perrnit easy access thereto, yet in which the key or lever is recessed in the can body permitting easy packing of the sealed cans.

Another highly important object of the invention is the provision of a device of the class dea scribed above having in combination therewith a spout or self-closing pouring means whereby the can, after the removable section or tear strip is removed, may be used as a pouring device and may be again temporarily closed.

Other a d further objects will appear from the detailed .d scription and disclosure which follows.

On the drawing:

Fig. l is a plan view of the construction as'it appears when formed as a part of the-top of a l Gill.

Fig. '2 is a cross sectional view of the construction taken on the .line 2-2 bi Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan viw of one form of closing means, part of the lid of the same being broken away to show how the said lid over-extends the 5 inner edges or lips of the main portion of the disc to which it is mounted.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of that part of the construction shown in Fig. 3, taken on the line 4-4 of said Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is'a plan view of the bottom face of the keyor lever shown in Figs. 1 and 2' detached from the tear strip.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the key or lever shown in Fig. 5 when the said key or lever 15 I is detached from the tear strip.

Fig. 7 is a modified form of spout for similar purposes to that form shown in Fig. 3, except that it is hinged at an opposite end and is particularly adapted to form a pouring spout.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of that portion of the device shown in Fig. '7 taken on .the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

As shown on the drawing:

The numeral l'indicatesa portion of a. con- 25 ventional can formed in the shape substantially as shown in Fig. 1, which may be formedin any appropriate part of the can, as for instance, in the top, bottom, or even the sides thereof to perform the functions herein indicated. The nu- 30 meral la is used to indicate a scoring. or scored portion extending entirely around the removable portion or tear strip i and is placed in a metal can or can cover by submitting that portion of the can to pressure with an appropriately formed 85 die which reduces the thickness of the can at the scored portion to a thickness substantially less than the thickness of the can body proper, yet retaining suflicient thickness, strength and rigidity to effectively seal the contents of the 40 can.

As shown in'Fig. 1, the tear strip in its preferred form has a peculiar and specific ovular or pear-like shape which permits this portion to be completely removed when the integral key or 46 lever, shown in the drawing and illustrated by the numeral 2, is lifted up and away from the body of the can, as further herein more specifically set forth. As is particularly shown in the drawing, the preferred form of tear strip is irregularly curved in shape, the arcuate or irregularly curved outline forming the side scoring coming together at that end whereon the key 'is attached at an abrupt angle and terminating in a perfect point in registry with the triangular portion 2a of key 2, further herein more specifically described.

Extending forwardly from the point of the tear strip in registry with portion 2a the scoring extends out at both sides angularly or in an irregular curve, as shown, until it achieves its widest portion at a distance substantially farther from the key than the remaining portion of the scoring or tear strip whichforms the extreme or outward end portion opposite the key or lever, thence proceeding angularly, arcuately, or in an irregular curve, the arcs, angles or irregular curves of the scoring coming into constant closer relationship with one another and finally terminating substantially abruptly in the tip or point indicated by the numeral Ib.

While I have illustrated in Fig. 1 the preferred form of the tear strip or removable section I,

the said tear strip may also be formed substantially quadrangular, oval or in other irregular shapes. The essential requirement for successfully removing the entire tear strip at one pull or stroke being that the key or lever be firmly and preferably integrally attached to the tear strip at one pointed end thereof and substantially in registry with the scoring at that point to permit initial rupture of the tear strip from the body of the can by raising the key or lever and that the scoring which defines the tear strip be so formed and shaped on opposite sides of the tear strip angularly, arcuately or in irregular The key or lever indicated by the numeral 2 consists in preferred form of a handle portion, the handle portion being humped substantially as shown in the drawing, the humped portion of the key or lever being indicated by the numeral 2c. The purpose of the humped portion 2c is to provide a portion which may be easily grasped by the finger or by an appropriate tool and whereby the initial leverage may be applied to the key or lever to initially break the point of the tear strip where it falls into registry with triangular portion 2a of the key or lever.

The numeral 2a. indicates a substantially triangular protrusion which in preferred form is formed integral with the lower part of key 2 and protruding slightly from the lowermost surface of the key or lever substantially as shown in Fig. 6. To give additional leverage and to further insure that the key or lever 2 will shear the tear strip from the can, the end of the key or lever substantially over-extends the end of the tear strip and this over-extending portion is indicated by the numeral 21).

In constructing my invention as a part of a can body, the key or lever 2 is preferably spotwelded or otherwise fixedly attached to the tear strip. Particularly, the substantially triangular portion 2a is welded or otherwise attached to the extreme tip of the tearing strip I, and it is immaterial whether or not the spot welding, or, if desired, soldering, also securely and integrally fastens portion 2?) to the tear strip I.

In preferred form, the can body is recessed substantially as shown-in Fig. 2, forming a recess or niche 3 in which the key or lever 2 may repose in such a manner that the hump or upwardly bent portion 20 may be reached by the fingers and yet which will permit that portion to lie in a plane substantially lower than the rim or edge B of can body A. The recessed portion 3 is to be given a form substantially the same as the outer periphery of key or lever 2 but extending at or near that end of recess 3 near portion 20 far enough from said key or lever 2 to permit the finger -or an appropriate opener or leverage device to be inserted under the hump 2c and the initial outward pressure exerted upon said key or lever.

In the preferred form of my invention I have provided a portion formed substantially as a disc, and to which the numeral 4 is applied, which may be welded or otherwise appropriately fastened to the interior surface of the can body and which has the purpose of providing a base or mounting means for the pouring spout or self-closing lid or other closing or pouring means, preferred forms of which are shown in Figs, 7 and 3. The disc 4 has a substantially annular rim la which may be soldered, spot-welded or otherwise appropriately fastened beneath the tear strip I and particularly made in such a form and size and attached in such a manner as to permit the self-closing lid or spout to be operatedwhen the tear strip I is completely removed from the can body A. a

In that form of disc particularly illustrated in Fig. 3, I have provided a self-closing lid. It will be noted that the lid lb is formed substantially in a shape which conforms in a general way to the outline of the tear strip I and such that when the tear strip is removed, the lid 4b is somewhat smaller than the tear strip and can, therefore, be easily operated once the tear strip I is removed. An elongated aperture 40 is provided in the disc 4 so that the rearwardmost end of lid 4b may pass therethrough and be curved around a strip in portion 4, substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, forming a curved portion 4d and permitting portion 41) to move in a substantially hinged manner perpendicular to the can body.

To insure that the closure of portion or lid 411 shown in Fig. 8 effects a closure of the can, it is provided that the lid 4b be substantially larger than the aperture in disc portion 4 which it covers and a. shoulder 46 is provided around the aperture in disc 4 forming a shoulder fie against which the outer periphery of lid 4b may fit rather closely forming a substantially tight closure and thus protecting the contents of the can.

In the modified form of disc 4, shown in Fig. 7, I have provided a device which is substantially a reversal of that preferred form shown in Fig. 3 and which it will be seen that by oppositely mounting the portion 421 and providing sides substantially as shown and by changing somewhat the form of the aperture in the disc 3, a pouring spout may be provided which serves the dual purpose of spout and closing means.

In this modified form the numeral 5 indicates a lid which may have the integral edges thereof turned backward forming the sides 5?) substantially angular toward one another. The numeral 5a indicates a portion of the lid or spout turned backward to form a hinge in the same manner as described with respect to the preferred form shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted that in the form shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the end of the lid or spout is turned slightly upward as shown in the drawing and indicated by numeral Ill.

50 and the disc portion 4 is slightly indented, as shown, to permit the lid or spout 6 to be raised with the fingers.

It is also to'be noted that the disc 4 is adapted to be used in conjunction with other forms of pouring spout or lid than those shown,'the'se two forms being shown only for the purpose of clarity.

When a can is constructed substantially as set forth above, it may be packed or racked upon shelves as can any conventional can. When it is desired to open a can of my construction. all that one need to do is to lift up on key or lever 2 placing the finger. or any convenient tool or the.

like in humped portion 20, which as herein set.

forth,'is recessed but -acces'silzrle in that portion given numeral 3, and to exert a tug or pull upward upon the said key 2. The force thus exerted upon key 2 will be transmitted to the tear strip, the key or lever and tear strip beingformed integral or securely soldered or welded together at triangular portion 2a and in registry with the tip of the tear strip i will transmit this pressure or pull directly to the tear strip and the scoringwill be sheared at that point. A continued pull upon the'key .2 will further'shear the portion i from the body of the can and the portion I may be taken and lii'ted'entirely from the body. of the can, exposing the lid 4b and the spout i.- The can is then ready for use and it will be noted from the construction shown that it effectively permits ready closure of the can and easy pouring of the contents from the same.

In this specification andinthe claims, wherever the term can" or can body is used. it is intended that the terms shall be broadly enough construed to define, for instance, a cap or closure for a bottle or the like.

While I have described my invention in considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the exact structure shown except as limited by the appended claims. Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention or any features thereof, and nothing herein shall be construed as limitations upon the invention, its concept or structiu'al embodiment as to the whole or any part thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a construction permitting the opening of sealed container by a single forcible pull'upon a protruding .element attached to a portion of said container, the combination of a portion of a container having irregularly curved scoring formed therein defining a substantially pear-shaped tear strip having a pair of spaced apart sharply pointed ends in register with the longitudinal axis of said tear strip, a lever, integral shearing means on said lever, said shearing means being fixedly mounted in register with the pointed end of thenarrowmost portion of said tear strip,

substantially as set forth.

2. In a can construction the combination of a substantially pear shaped removable tear strip defined by irregularly curved scoring in a can body terminating in a pair of sharply pointed ends, a disc forming a base and having an aperture therein mounted under said tear strip and exposable thereunder when said tear strip isremoved, a lid hinged at one end to said disc adapted. to form a cover for the aperture in said disc and closing the aperture in said disc when said tear strip is removed.

3. In a device of the'described class thecombination of a can body, a substantially pearshaped tear strip terminating in a pair of sharply pointed ends defined by scoring .in said can body, 7

a lever formed integral with one pointed end of said tear strip adapted to shear the same from said cam body by a single pull thereon and a lid formed on a mounting having an aperture therein beneath said tear strip and exposable when said tear strip is removed, said lid adapted to closethe aperture in said mounting.

4. In a device.of the described class the combination of a portion of a can body, a removable tear strip defined by substantially irregularly curved scored lines terminating in a pair of spaced apart sharply pointed ends in said can body, a lever, shearing means integral with said lever and fixedly mounted on one pointed end of said tear strip and adapted to shear said tear strip from said canbody, a mounting having an aperture therein beneath said tear strip and exposable when said tear strip is removed, and a spout hingedly mounted on said tear strip adapted to optionally close said aperture in said mounting or to permit pouring of contents from said can body substantially as shown.

5. In a can construction the combination of a can body, irregularly curved scoring in said body,

can body fixedly mounted onrone pointed end of said tear strip and providing a means to remove said tear strip from said can body by a single pull on said lever.

6. In an article of the class described the combination of a can body, a tear strip in said body defined by irregularly curved seoringxa lever, a substantially triangular. protrusion onsaid lever, said triangular protrusion being in registry with and rigidly fastened to a pointed end of said tear strip adapted to provide a means to initially tear and completely remove said tear strip from said body, a plate having an aperture therein mounted in said can body beneath said tear strip forming a base for a hinged lid and a hinged lid on said plate adapted to form a closure for said aperture in said plate when said tear strip is removed.

7. In an article of the class described the combination of a can body having a disc formed integral therewith, said disc having an aperture therein adapted to form a base for a hinged lid forming a cover for said aperture, a lid, said lid being formed under and within the confines of a removable tear strip formed as a part of the can body. a tear strip defined by irregularly curved-scoring terminating forwardly and rearwardly in sharply pointed ends, a key, shearing means integral with said key and fixedly mounted in registry with one pointed end of said tear strip pointed end of said tear strip and reposing in a the said recess in said can body, a fixedly attached atively wide space therebetween at the central portion of said tear strip and a lever having a triangular protrusion in registry with and rigidly attached to one pointed end of said tear strip, said lever adapted to be pulled to shear said tear strip from said can body portion by a single pull thereon.

10. In a can construction the combination of a portion of a container, an ovular tear strip in said portion of said container defined by irregularly curved scoring forming a pair of spaced apart sharply pointed ends, said pair of sharply pointed ends on said tear strip being in substantial registry with the longitudinal axis thereof, and protruding lever means having integral shearing means thereon connected to one sharply pointed end oi. said tear strip providing a means for entirely removing said tear strip from said can body by a single forcible pull thereon.

11. In a can construction the combination of a wall of a can body, irregularly curved scoring in said can body the lines of which meet and terminate forwardly and rearwardly in sharply pointed ends defining a removable tear strip, a

relatively wide and substantially pear-shaped tear strip having spaced sharply pointed ends defined by said scoring, and a lever having integral shearing means thereon fixedly mounted on one of said pointed ends of said tear strip and extending longitudinally thereof in a plane normally slightly above said tear strip and providing a means for entirely removing said tear strip from said can body by a single forcible pull on said lever.

12. In a device of the described class the combination of a can body, a disc having an aperture therein mounted on said body, a lid covering the aperture in said disc in substantial registry with a relatively wide removable tear strip formed in a wall of said can body above said disc, said tear strip being defined by irregularly curved scoring terminating forwardly and rearwardly in sharply pointed ends, a lever, an integral substantially triangular protrusion on said lever, said triangular protrusion being rigidly attached to one pointed end of said tear strip and in registry with the scoring and adapted to provide a means to initially shear said pointed, end of said tear strip from said can body.

13. In a device of the described class the combination of a can body having a recess formed therein, a removable substantially pear-shaped tear strip defined by irregularly curved scoring in said can body terminating forwardly and rearwardly in sharply pointed ends, a key. said key fitting into the recess in said can body. a substantially pointed protrusion on said key, said pointed protrusion rigidly fastened to and in substantial registry with one pointed end of said tear strip and forming a means to initially rupture one end of said tear strip from said body and a disc having an aperture therein and a lid for closing said aperture mounted under said removable tear strip and exposable when said tear strip is removed.

EMIL O. MU'NK. 

